Principal leaves after resignation letter

THE principal of a struggling Barnsley school has left after announcing his resignation to parents in a letter.

Barnsley Academy, once named one of the most improved schools in the country, was rated 'inadequate' with 'serious weaknesses' by Ofsted inspectors in February.

Principal Dave Berry has now been replaced by executive principal Nikki Shaw, after Mr Berry said he was stepping down due to family commitments.

In a letter to parents he said: "As many of you know, my wife Janet has been unwell for 18 months and the time is now right for me to put my family first and retrieve a more acceptable work/life balance."

A spokesman for the school said: "We are very pleased with the improvements underway at the academy which are reflected in the monitoring inspection report and very grateful to Mr Berry for a successful handover to Mrs Shaw which is now complete.

"Mr Berry has continued to work at the academy since announcing his departure although, in terms of the Ofsted inspection, Mrs Shaw, as executive principal took the lead."

** The full story appears in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated July 25. **